How an Aural Hematoma is Treated in a Dog

An aural hematoma is not uncommon in dogs. It can be fixed, but it can't be left to heal on its own. If you suspect your dog has an ear hematoma, it is important that you know what to do.

What is an aural hematoma?

An aural hematoma, or ear hematoma, is a large collection of blood that has formed between the skin and the cartilage of the ear. The dog's ear flap will appear to have a lump or look swollen. In easy to understand terms, it is similar to a blood blister. We will refer to it as an ear hematoma.

What causes an ear hematoma?

If your dog has an ear infection and shakes his head a lot that is one major cause of an ear hematoma. Allergies can be a cause, bite wounds, or any type of trauma can lead to an ear hematoma. If your dog hits its ear on a solid object, such as a wall or the floor, that can also cause an ear hematoma.

What will happen to an ear hematoma if I don't have it treated?

The worst thing to do is to do nothing. If you don't have the ear hematoma treated it can rupture and the ear flap can become infected. Another possibility is that the clot will cause a deformity of the ear flap. The ear flap will become thick and can interfere with normal ventilation of the ear canal. It can potentially product an ear flap that has a cauliflower appearance. Once that happens, the ear will stay like that forever.

What is the best treatment for an ear hematoma?

Unfortunately, the best treatment in this case is surgery which will allow the ear to drain and heal. There are several different surgical procedures that can be used and each veterinarian has his or her own preferred method.

Which surgical procedure is the best for an ear hematoma?

There is a technique whereby multiple circular incisions are made in the inner ear flap which allows the clot to drain. This procedure takes more time than other variations, but it is the best choice to give the ear a chance to return to look like a normal ear. That is the first part of the surgery. To help aid the ear in returning to its normal shape the vet will use someone on the outside of the ear to help it retain proper form and shape.

What is the follow-up care for an ear hematoma surgery?

Your dog has gone through an operation and will probably be a little out of it the rest of the day. All vets have their own follow-up procedures, so your instructions may be a little different from the following:

It is recommended that you do not feed your dog until at least 24 hours post-op. Clear liquids are allowed.

Your dog's ear will bleed a little. You may want to put some old towels on your dog's bed or sofa, or anywhere you don't want blood to stain.

You will be given at 10 days worth of antibiotics for the dog.

You will have to use an antibiotic ointment on the incision, per your vet's instructions.

After 5 days you will have to wash the dog's ear, very gently, with antibacterial soap. This will help remove scabs and encourage the ear to drain.

You will be told what day to take the dog back to have the stitches removed.

Your vet will tell you to contact the office at any time if you feel something isn't right.

How do I know so much about an ear hematoma?

My dog, a lab, has a habit of sneezing extremely hard. Recently she sneezed so hard she hit her ear on the floor. As soon as I heard it, I knew she banged something. Not long after that is when I noticed that her ear flap was thick and seemed to be full of fluid. I called the vet right away. As soon as our vet looked at her ear he said, "Oh, no." and shook his head. Then he went on to explain that she had an ear hematoma and that surgery was required. Since there was no reason to prolong it, he scheduled surgery the next day.

She wasn't allowed any food or water starting at midnight. We took her in at 9:00 am. The office called when it was over and said she did fine. She was a little woozy when we picked her up a few hours later.

The procedure our vet used may seem a little unorthodox at first, especially if you never had to deal with an ear hematoma before. He used a piece of x-ray film, cut to fit a portion of her outer ear flap. The x-ray film was then sewed to the outside her ear flap. It is this procedure that ensures that the ear returns to its normal shape.

We were given an appointment 10 days post-surgery to have the stitches remove. When we took her back for the removal of the stitches, the nurse took her in the back room and within a few minutes she was x-ray free and ready to go home. We were told the scab on the inside of her ear flap, would eventually fall off, which it has. There were no other instructions, she was good to go.

We are now about a month post-op and the swelling is gone. It was an experience, and now every time she sneezes I cringe. If you think your dog has an ear hematoma, don't panic; call your vet for an appointment.

Sources:

Personal experience

Instructional sheet from Mountainstone Veterinary Hospital

Acvs.org

uvma.org